Automatic valve fob wateb heaters



Dec. 28, 1926.

D. S. COLE AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR WATER HEATERS 1921 2 Sheets-$hesi 1 Filed May 15 Dec. 28 l 926.

D. S. COLE AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR WATER HEATERS Filed May 15 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 28 1926.

UNlTED STATES DWIGHT S. COLE, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR WATER HEATERS.

Application filed May 13,

My invention relates to an improved automatic valve mechanism for controlling the fuel supply to heaters, and more par-- ticularly to such units as form parts of antomatic rapid Water heaters, but not necessarily limited in application thereto. In such constructions it is provided that the fuel or heating means, usually gaseous, be turned on, to heat the water as it flows through the heater, and oil, as the water ceases to flow therethrough, by automatic means actuated to turn on the heat as a faucet on the delivery line from the heater is opened to permit water to be discharged and to turn off the heat simultaneously with the closing of the outlet faucet and the stoppage of the flow of water through the heater, all in a manner well known in this art in recent years. My invention has for an object to provide a simple, durable, ellicient and economically manufactured automatic valve unit for heaters of this character, which may be readily assembled with and installed in a suitably designed heater of the designated class, and which may readily have the moving elements thereof removed from and replaced in its casing with little effort by comparatively unskilled labor, and without disconnecting any pipes or the valve casing from its assemblage in the heater. Other objects of my invention are to provide a novel, simple, inensive and highly efficient automatic-ad- 1 ting means of producing leak-proof joints where movable elements of the valve mechanism extend through a wall of the valve casing; a simple and inexpensive n'iounting for the fuel-valve disk to enable same to automatically adjust itself to its seat, and asimple adjustable by-pass within the water chamber for purposes hereinafter specified.

For an understanding of the invention by wh h these ends, and many others notat this time specifically enumerated. are attained, reference is made tothe following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

l is a front elevation of the unit of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an under view of the same.

3 is an end elevation looking at the left hand end of Fig. 1.

' I a is a longitudinal vertical section substantially centrally 0f the unit.

is a horizontal section taken on the 1921. Serial No. 469.371.

plane of line 55 of Fig. at, certain parts of the mechanism being moved to a different position from that shown in Fig. l, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the plane of line 6-6, of Fig. 4.,

Like reference charactersrrefer to like parts in the different figures of the draw ings, and the sections shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are taken looking in the directions indicated by the corresponding arrows on the section lines.

As disclosed by the drawings, my new automatic valve is unique in its class and manner of installation in such heaters in that it is designed to be mounted within the casing of the heater and upon the base thereof to which it is secured in such manner that its main gas outlet connects with a cord passage in said base leading to nipples there in which direct streams of gas upward into mixing tubes suspended thereover and depending from the superimposed main burner of the heater. The water and gas supplies to the heater enter the casing of the automatic valve through vertical pipes which screw into suitably-threaded orifices, 16 and 81, in the bottom of its main casing, a suitable central orifice being provided through the base of the heater casing for the admission of said pipes and certain other parts of the valve structure therethrough. The water flows upward through its chambers in the casing and thence through a central rise-pipe to the top of the heating coils of the heater, and from said coils through pipes to service faucets where hot water is desired. Suitable orifices, 32 and 33, are provided in the tops of the gas chambers of the valve casing for supplying gas to the pilot lighting system of the heater, but as such pilot lighting system forms no part of the present invention same is not shown or described herewith.

Fig. 4 shows that the water and gas chambers of my improved automatic valve are disposed in opposite ends of one casting, which also serves to house certain elements of the movable parts by which the fuel is controlled. By uniting the said chambers in one casting the utmost certainty of accuracy in positioning the several elements of the valve mechanism is achieved and its consequent perfect action is attained and maintained in the highest possible degree.

The drawings disclose that the central portion of the valve casing consists essentially of a vertical cylinder having openings in its interior wall adapted to the flow of fluid therethrough and to admit therein an arm extending from an adjoining chamber. Said cylinder terminates at its lower end at the common base of the casing, where it is closed by a suitable head, 10, and it extends upward, as indicated by numeral 7, above the other portions of the casing where it terminates in a flange, 7, adapted to having a connection made therewith. By the bore of said cylinder of uniform diameter, and both of its ends open when cast, the accurate iinishingof said bore is easily accomplished.

is clearly shown in Fig. 4-, that portion of the casing at. the left of said cylinder comprises two water chambers, one above the other, adapted to receive and direct water enteringat inlet orifice 16 into the cylinder. The larger portionof said water passes to the cylinder. through-port 17 and the. remainder through by-pass opening 24l25 t ience through tne upper water chamber into the cylinder. The upper of said water chambers forms a housing for portions of the valve-operating mechanism hereinafter deeribed. wall of the cylinder, cast integrally with the casing, provides a passage, through which water flows past piston 18 when the heater is operating and delivering heated water. An outwarally-projecting hollow boss, 23, is provided at the left of said upper water chamber for the purpose of permitting the insertion and removal of arm -il9. therethrough. Said boss contains an adjustable lay-pars plug 22 screwed therein and is closed at its outer end by screw plug 26.-

That portion of the casingto the right of said cylinder also comprises two chamber, separated by a perforated vertical par-i tition, 28, adapted to admit thepassage of a gaseous or fluid fuel therethrough, and in add-itionthe outermost of said chambers forms a housing for the valve elements coacting with the outer face of said partition surrounding said perforation therein to form a valve to control the flow of fuel from the inner to the outer of said gas or fuel chambers.

The valvemechanism is actuated to open the fuel valve by a piston, 18, titted within the described vertical cylinder, said piston being forced upward by thepressure of the incoming water when the water flows freely: through the heater, and is closed by a suit able spring, external of the casing and suitably connected to the valve-operating mechanism. as hereinafter described. assisted by the weight of the pii'ton elements acting downward upon arm 49 and thence through said valve-o ierating mechanism, when the r of wat r through the valve and heater making A recess or pocket 2?, in the rear The valveoperating mechanism embodies two rock-shafts, 3-1 and 34, horizontally mounted crosswise in the main casing; an arm 49 rigidly secured to rock-shaft 3st and having its other end operably connected to piston 18 in the cylinder; a valve-diskcarrying arm 35 secured at one of it; ends to rock-shaft 34: by screw 36; a valve disk 39 carried by arm dependent arms 51 and 51 rigidly secured to the externallyprojecting ends of. the said rock-shafts; a link, 54, hinged to and connecting the lower enas'of said dependent arms, and a tension spring, 55, connected at onev of .its ends to the upper portion of dependent arm .51 and at its other endto link 5% near to Where it connect"; to the lower end of dependent arm 51,.as clearlyshown by the drawings.

Piston 18 is solid and close-fitting in the. cylinder to prevent .much leakage, when 111.

its lower position, between its circumferen tial wall and the inner wall of the cylinder in which it reciprocates vertically. To insure that piston 18 shall at. all times move true and not becomecramped inthe cylinder a guide piston, 19, of the same diameter as pii'ton 18, is. provided inthe upper part of the cylinder, the vtwo pistons being rigidly COllllGClJGll by a tie-bar, 20, cast integrally vith both. pistons. Vertical perforations, 21, are provided through piston 19 to permit of the. free flow of allof the-water passing to the heater therethrough without-affecting the position of said piston. Both pistons are machined so as to leave all edges sharp to act as scrapers to clean off any particles of-dirt which .may lodge against the inner wall of the cylinder within their limits of travel, thus preventing such dirt from getting between the.sliding surfaces and afl ccting the free movement of the pistons .element. Tie-bar has a suitable perforation, 50, to receive the end of arm v L9 .there-. through. Said perforationis madesomewhat larger than the end of arm 49 to insure that it shall not interfere with the free movement of the pistons, and also to permit the pistons elen'ientto rotate slightly to add to its freedom of movement in the cylinder.

'lhe by-pass 2 between the lower and.

upper water chambers is adjustable for the purpose of regulating the quantity of water. which can be drawn through the heater without operating the valve .mechanism. to turn on the heating fluid to the main burner of the heater. The object of such regulation is to insure that a sutiicient amount of water will be flowing through the. heater, when the heating fluid turned on to the burner thereof, to prevent steam from forming in the heating coils and at the same time to permit of delivering water at nearly: the boiling point when desired. As. normals of water pressure and heating fluid vary considerably at different places where such heation till

ers are to be installed it often becomes necessary to adjust the by-pass after the heater is installed to satisfy the normal conditions of said pressures at the places of installation. To this end perforation 25, through partition 8, is made larger than required to meet the conditions where a minimum of normal water pressure is found, and the quantity of water by-passed is regulated by slightly turning by-pass plug 22 in either direction so that more or less of notch 24 in the side thereof is over perforation 25. As such adjustment is generally made finally when the heater is first installed the means provided serve well to attain the desired end, are simple in construction and adjustment, and so placed that children or other meddlers cannot disturb the adjustment. A transfer of water from the lower to the upper water chamber in the casing must occur when piston 18 descends and the gas valve closes. The more quickly such transfer occurs the quicker piston 18 will descend and the gas valve be closed. A simple nonadjustable perforation through partition 8 or piston 18 would permit such transfer of water and such a plain perforation is all that would be necessary were it not for the need of regulating the flow through the heater, as above described. 2

The removal and replacement of head 10, which closes the lower end of the cylinder, may occasionally be necessary for cleaning the interior of the cylinder or for repairs. The form of said head and the means of securing same to the casing have been designed to that end, and a novice with a common screw driver can perform these operations easily and effectively, as the construction clearly shows. The bottom of the casing is recessed about the lower end of the cylinder to receive a gasket, 11, therein. Head 10 is provided on itsinner face with an annular collar which passes upward through gasket 11 and a short distance beyond into the bore of the cylinder, which it fits closely. Said head extends laterally beyond said collar portion to cover the lower face. of said gasket and bears upward against the same; A downwardly-projecting ballended short boss is provided at the center of the bottom face of head 10 and is preferably formed integrally therewith. A bar, 12. extends diametrically across and beneath said head and contacts on its upper face with the tip of the rounded boss on said head. Both ends of said bar extend beyond said head and perforations to receive the bodies of screws are provided in the bar near its ends. Screws 13 pass through said perforations irom below and screw into threaded perforations provided in ears 14 projecting from and forming extensions of the base of the casing, whereby when said screws are made up firmly said bar will press said head snugly against said gasket and thus make the joint between said head and the base of t e casing leak-proof against the pressure of the water from within the casing. By this construction the upward pressure of bar 12 upon head 10 is always at the center of said. head and thus exerts an equalized prefsure upon all portions of said gasket. The above-described. construction of the closing of the lower end of the cylinder satisfies ll e requirements of practice in a very complete and satisfactory manner. Additional similar cars, 14, having internally screwhreaded perforations theretln'ough, are provided side extensions of the base of the valve casing to receive screws which secure said casing accurately and firmly in place on the base of the heater casing.

Many earlier inventors have atten'inted to design so-called proportional-flow alve mechanisms, to deliver varying quantities of water at a desired constant ten'iperature, through such simple type of (not thermostatically controlled) heaters. Since the pressure and temperature of the water, and pressure and q..ality of the gas, are all variables, as received from street service mains, it is not possible to achieve the results sought by any such proportional-tlow devices. The most practical solution of the problems involved by these variables is that in which the fire or heat is maintained as nearly constant as possible, while heated wa ter is being delivered, and govern the temperature of the water being delivered by varying the quantity discharged by opening the delivery faucet more or lessthe larger the stream the lower the temperature and vice-versa. Moreover, gas burners do not ignite satisfactorily or give eilicient results when supplied with but a small part of their normal quantity of gas. These and other considerations have caused me to design my improve-d automatic valve mechanism so that the gas supply to the burners of the heater is fully turned on or oil by a very small variance in the quantity of water being drawn from the heater. To that end the lower margin of recess 27, provided in the rear wall of the cylinder when the casing is cast. is located at such a height that the travel of piston 18 from its lowest position, as inclicated by dotted lines 18 in Fig. 41-, to that when it begins to uncover the lower margin of recess 27 will suliice to open the gas valve in the outer gas chamber of the casing sutl cient-ly to permit of practically the full flow of gas to the burners of the heater. Any further rise of piston 18, as a larger quantity of water is being drawn, simply swings the valve disk 39 farther from valve seat 29 without materially increasing the flow of gas to the burners of the heater.

In the construction of such. automatic valves, as designed by many earlier invenit enters the gas chamber adjustable stuffing boxes containing-some suitable packing material under more or less compression are employed .to preventleakage from such' chambers outward. Where the water .pres

sure encountered is high such packings must be made up quite tight toprevent leakage.

ln-such casesthe inward radialpressure of so great as to frequently .prevent the valve from being elo'sedloy the spring employed,

thus leaving the gas turned on after the water has stopped -flowing through the, heater, with very disastrous results to the heater. To avoid such troubles l have devised a mechanism for the opening and closing of the gas valve inmy improved automatic valve unit wherein a non-adjustable and highly etlicient packing-means, producing a minimum of frictional resistance, is. e4iployed. To permit of the use of my improved packing-means-in-a simple and ell icient manner I employ a novel construction. of valve-operating mechanism, as shown by.

the drawings and as will now be explained. I i Fhe most distinctive feature oi. my. new valve-operating mechanism consists in the employment of two rocl-I-shafts, Pi l: and 34,

which lie horizontally crosswise of and are.

inserted into the casing through orifices provided tlierefor in the front wall 1 of the easing. ends of said shafts by bores made from the interioror front of the casing and extending from the inner face of the rear wall of the 1 casing nearly to the back ends of bosses 43- and 413 formed integrally with and projecting rearvardly flOl'l'l. said baclt wall 3 of the casing. Said rock-shafts each have enlargements within the casing. for the securement thereto of arms hereinafter dedrawings. The said orifices in the front Where .for said rock-shafts.

Bearings are provided. for. the rear.

said

wallof the casing are provided with internal screw threads, and those portions of the front face of the casing surrounding said orifices are made. flat. in planes at right angles to the axes of said orifices. Glands, L7

and 47, are provided to close said orifices and the axial bores through said glands provide. thefront bearings, above referred to,

Said glands areexteriorly screw threaded for a portion .of their.

lengths andsuch portions eng 'e the interior screw threads of said orifices when .said glands are in place.

To facilitate the L 1 1 insertion lllbO.r21l1(-. .iemoial of said glanos from said orifices in the casing, and to msure that leakage shall not occur through .said screwi threaded joints, the outer porthe pacltings upon the plSliOlllOClOl shaft. is,

tions of saidglands are provided with heads which are larger in diameter than said screw threadedportions thereof. Saidheads are preferably formed on their outer peripheries for the-engagement of a wrench thereon, the rear faces of the heads being accurately faced to engage the above-described .flat surfaces on the front face of the casing surrounding said orifices so as to form leal proof joints therehetween when the glands are tirn'ily screwed in place. inner ends of said glands have rectangular annular recesses machined therein to receive the larger portions-of ring packings, 48 and 4.8, therein, said packings being preferably made of suitable leather saturated with a good water-proof lubricant and-are firmly forced into saidiannular recesses with a die and, press, so that the projecting portions of said ring packings shall be left smooth and in planes at right angles to the axes of the bores throughsaid glands. To prevent inward radial expansion of the said ring paelrings the annular recesses inthe ends of said 'lauds' are so former as to leave collars o!" the metal of the glands between the inner diameters of said ring pacls ings and the axial bores through said glands, the free endsof said collars being made fiush with the end faces ofthe glands outside of said packings. The said collars prevent said packings from binding upon. the circumferentialwalls or surfaces of the bearing portions of. the rock-shafts .which pass through said glands all as shown clearly in Fig. 5. The exposed faces of said'ring paclrings form the surfaces upon which the above-described smooth annular flat surfaces, provided at. the front ends of the shoulders of the enlarged portions of the rock-shafts, contact and oscillate as the valve mechanism operates in service, and when adequate pressures are applied to hold the said contacting surfaces together the joints made by them are leak-proof against all pressures .met with in such installations. The oscillating HIOVQIDQDtS of the rock-shafts tend to improve said joints and the packing-s The extreme Ell!) and durable in practice. As the pressure of gas supplies from common street service mains is very slight I have provided an additional force axially to rock-shaft to hold its smooth radial shoulder 46 against ring packing 48 to prevent gas leakage therebet-ween. To this end an axial bore is made in the rear end of rock-shaft 34 to an adequate depth, a suitable compression spring 45 is placed in the inner portion of said bore and a free-fitting plunger 44 in the outer portion of said bore, said plunger hearing at its inner end against said spring and having its outer end projecting from the rock-shaft and terminating in a point which bears pivotally against the end of the bore in boss 43, areviously described, thus producing an inexpensive and practically frictionless constant forward thrust on said rock-shaft, for the vspecified purpose. As the water pressure within the water chambers of the casing tends constantly to expel rocleshaft 34 from the casing no other force is required to hold the contact between the packing surfaces provided for said rock-shaft constantly leaktight. The tightness of said packing joint is automatically varied as the water pres sure in the water chambers varies, the joint being tighter as the pressure increases and prove very efiicient the tendency for leakage increases, and vice-,

versa. Usage for a considerable period has demonstrated that the packing-means described are excellent solutions of the problems involved from every point of View, and at the same time they are exceedingly simple and economical to produce.

As hereinbefore stated, an arm 49 is provided to transfer motion from piston 18 to roclnshaft 34. Said arm has one of its ends rigidly secured to said rock-shaft and its other end proiec s tl'irough perforation 50 in tie-bar 20 which rigidly connects solid actuating piston 18 and perforated guide piston 19 to form a single unit or element. Said arm 49 is preferably made in the form of a special screw having a suitable notched head at its secured end, a screw-threaded portion adjoining said head, and a plain cylindrical extension of smaller diameter than said threaded portion forming its other end. Hock-shaft 34 has a screw-threaded axially transverse perforation in its enlarged central portion, with a flat surface surrounding and at right angles to the axis of said perforation to form a seat for the said head on arm 49. The screw-threadedportion of arm 49 is made of such a length that the head on said arm will project somewhat from the hollow boss 23 of the casing after said threads have begun to engage the threads in the transverse perforations in said rockshaft, said provision of lon -threaded portion being made to facilitate the removal of .m a Li arm 49 train rceleeuait tl-ience train.

the casing by the use of a simple screw driver engaging the notch in the head of said arm. The construction of arm 49, above described, and its assemblage in the valve train are clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

The enlarged central portion of rock-shaft 34 within the outer gas chamber of the casing has one end of valve-disk-carrying arm 35 secured thereto by screw 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The other end of arm 35 has a conical perforation formed there through, the larger end of said perforation being toward the interior of the casing. An annular plate 38, has a perforated spherical hollow boss formed integrally with its central portion, the outer surface of said boss being adapted to fit into the described conical perforation in arm 35. A valve disk, 39, of oil-saturated leather or other suitable material, bears with one of its faces against the flat portion of the inward face of plate 38, being co-axial therewith, and is held thereagainst by a combined plate and nut, 40, sald part 40 having a notched head projectnig from one face thereof and an internally screw-threaded cylindrical portion projectmg from its other-facesaid last-described portion passing through an axial perforation in valve disk 39 and thence into the recessed portion of plate 38. A screw 37, having a compression spring 41 under its icad, passes axially through a small washer and thence through the conical perforation in arm 35 and the perforation in plate 38 and screws into the internally screwthreaded portion of part 40, thus holding the several parts together securely and somewhat. flexibly upon arm 35. as shown in Fig. 4. The construction described produces a mounting for valve disk whereby same is firmly pressed and held against valve seat 29, surrounding orifice .28 in partition 28. when the valve is closed, and said disk will antomatically shift sufliciently when necessary to adapt'itself to its seat regardless of slight inaccuracies of construction incident to the economical production of such parts.

In practice valve disk and parts which mount same on arm are assembled on s id arnr and then such assemblage is introduced into the casing through an opening provided for that purpose in the end 4 of the casing, screw 36 being then put in place to secure arm 35 to rock-shaft 34, said screw being readily accessible through said opening when the valve disk is against its seat. A plug-cap 42, best shown in Fig. 4, serves to close said opening in the casing against gas leakage.

Dependentv arms 51 and 51 are secured to the forward ends of rock-shafts 34 and 34 respectively by special screws, 52 and 52 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 and di closed tuiiy in e by the darted lines 1a snit-able d-epth into theend'porti'ons of the rock-shafts. said holes being clearly indicated in Fig. 5, which construction servesto lock said arms secnrelyin correct angular positions on their respective'sha't'ts. lTl1e clescribed means for securino arms Sland 51 in place-serve as combined locating keys and securing means; thuss-atist'ying: all such requirements ina wery simple nndunexpensive manner.

The lower ends'ot-arins 61 and 51 have forwardly projecting pins. 53 and -53,

' formed integrally therewith. said pins having transverse perforations thcrethrough, as

shown in Fig. (3.; to receive cotter pins,- as

shown in Figs. 1 and 2. "it simple link, 5.4-.

having transverse peritoralions near its ends thereon by said cotter pins. serves to connect the lower 'ends'oflsaidi arms by hingcd oints, thus causing said arms to function together-in opening and closingzthe fuel valve in the casing. A suitable tensionzspringfio connected at oneofits'ends to an ear formed integrally with the uppenportionof arm 51 and at its other end to an ear formed integrally with link 5 t'near th at one'oi its-ends 'xrhich connects to pin 53, as "shown-in Fig: 1, serves to close the; fuel valve and hold same firmly closed at 1 all timeswlren an insutiicient amount of water 1 is "being "drawn through the heater to producean'operative difference oi pressure in the lower and upper water ehan'ihers of the casing-to lift-piston 18 from its lowest position in the cylinder.

In assembling the valvemechanism in the casing the procedure is very simple and is as follows, viz: Insert roclosha'tts 3 t tha ing spring -15 and plunger li therein) and 34. and secure them' with glands 1-7- and ll havingring paclrings' +t8 and ltl inset therein. '(b) Secure 'd ep endentarn'is fil and'fil" to their respectiveprojecting ends of the rock-shafts with scre s 52 and52. (c)

'Assernble and secure the gas-va lve dislr 39 and its mountings on arm 35, and said 11 11] to roclcshai t'ii l by screw '365 and then put closure-42in place. ((1) Insert the pistons element 18l92() in cylinder, andarm' 49 through boss 23, rock-shaft 34 andperforation 50, followed by by-pass plug -QQand .1 2 s c osmg p n J ecuie cynnc e1 ieat 10 in place. and 53 and secure same thereon with cotter pins, as shown. Put spring' 55in place, and the assemblage is complete. Obviously the dismantling oi the parts may be accom- (f) Place link 54- 011 pins" 53 plished in the reverse order to that of assem- -bla ge. In-this connection it is to be noted :that either the PiStODS OlGHlGHt or gas-valvediskand its assemblage --may be removed from the casing and-replaced therein with- -out-disturbing the other or anypipes that connect to the valve casing, or any of the movingparts of the mechanism at'the front of the casing, and also without removing the rock-shafts or-disturbing the glands which retain same inthe casing. These pro visions are'mat'le to facilitate any cleaning -=or repairs which maybe found--necessary aft-er'the heat-er hasbeen in service'lor a considerable period.

From the foregoing it is clear that when a t'aucet or tLap'in the system is'opencd in fullythe pressure of the wateragainstthe under side of; piston 18 elevates it to the position shown in Fig.-4 so that the water "can run freely by the piston through the rpassage' at27. Thiselevation of the piston elev ates the l'ree end of rod ll), thereby t-urning'shatt 34%whereupon shaft 84- is correspondingly turned through the lever and dink-bar connections between the shafts and the dislv39'moved to'opcn position -substanman asshowninFig. 4. i The gaseous fuel -is givenpa'ssage tothe burner and the light ling wlevice for the burner simultaneously "with the opening of passage for the water 5 past the'piston 28. The parts remain-in this position as long: as thew'ater is running and ='t'hewpressurWof water below the'piston is :fgre'ater ithan that above it s'ufficient to-overcome the spring 55. 'l Vhenthe :taucet or "tap is closed, the pressure above and below the 'pist'on-18pro1i1ptly equalizers and the wspring'55 draws the parts bac c to closing position,"bringing the piston 18 -bciow the passage at 27 and chasing against the passage of water except such limited amount as may to through the by-pass described, and torcing fabric disk'39 tightly against the annular lip 'seat'29' to close ott'all escape ot 'fgraseous "fuel; except such limitedamount as may feed the "pilot light.

It will be evident that this unit is com plete initself'and may'be installed in. place in a he'aterby the simple'settingof=securincz screws; and'of c'oursemay-be as readily remov'ed. "It is'a-lso 'clear that the con truc- T ti'on is very simple from a mechanical stand- "point but that every'operationneeded to be ziei"t'orinedon thecasting to machine it to fini'sl'ied fornrds? very'easy to make. every boring, tapping, facing, or grinding bring very simple to perform. The'me'ans used to -make: a water tight joint around shaft 34" I and agas tight joint witlrrespect to shaft 3 L is novel, very simply and economically prodn'ced, andanywear is automatically taken up so as 'to alwaysunaintain a perfect joint "which is absolutely non-leaking 'until the ringpackings 4:8 and 48" are worn out when ill [ill

the replacement of the packings makes the joints as good as new for another long period of service. Access to the mechanisms carried by said shafts is easy, in fact, every part of the construction is designed with particular reference to facility in construction, assembly, repair it needed, and adjustment so as to make a substantially perfect unit for the purposes desircc, and at low cost of manufacture.

In practice, this construction has proved its merit over a considerable length of time of continuous use. The appended claims define the invention and I consider myself entitled to all forms of structure which come within the scope thereof.

1 claim:

1. A construction of the class described comprising a hollow casing provided wit-h a vertical cylinder between its ends and with water receiving upper and lower chambers at one side of the cylinder communicating with each other and with the vertical cylinder, and gaseous fuel chambers at the other side of the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder adapted in lower position to stop the passage of water and in an upper position to permit free passage of water by it from the lower water chamber, movable valve means disposed between the fuel chambers in closed position stopping passage of fuel from one chamber to the other, means for mounting the valve means, and means operatively interposed between the piston and said valve means mounting for opening or closing the valve means as the piston is raised or lowered, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a hollow integral casting formed between its ends with a vertical cylinder open at both ends, a plate closing the lower end of the cylinder, said upper end of the cylinder being adapted for connection to a water system, said casing at one side of the cylinder being divided into upper and lower compart ments both in communication with each other and the cylinder, a piston mounted in the cylinder, said cylinder above the lower position of the piston having a lateral enlargement to form a passage by the piston when it is elevated, the casing at the other side of the cylinder being divided vertically into two chambers by a vertical partition having an opening therethrough, a closing valve for said opening mounted niovably in one of said chambers, and means for operating said valve from open to closed position, or vice versz by moven'ient of the piston, the lower of the first mentioned compartments being adapted to receive water under pressure, and one of said chambers being adapted to receive gaseous fuel under pressure and the other having an outlet through which it may escape, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a hollow unitary casing having compart V i'nents into which water and gaseous fuel under pressure may be received, and also a vertical cylinder disposed between the water and the fuel compartments, the water compartments communicating with each other and said cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, means normally holding the piston in lower position when the pressure on opposite sides of the piston is substantially equalized, said piston being elevated by pressure of water when the pressure above the vpiston is relieved, a lateral passage in the side of the cylinde communicating with the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston for the passage of water by the piston when elevated to upper position, a valve closing the fuel receiving compartment against escape of fuel when the piston is in lower position, and means for opening the valve actuated by the piston on its elevation, substantially as de scribed.

4%. In a construction of the class described having a casing with compartments into which fluids under pressure may be entered, of shafts mounted in said compartments,

a h of said shafts having an enlarged centra portion and an annular shoulder at the juncture of one end of the shaft with its central portion, a nut threaded into the side of the casing for each shaft, the shafts passing through said nuts, a groove in the inner face of each nut spaced from the bore thereof, a ring packing inset in each groove and pressing against the shoulder of each shaft, and means for rotatably supporting the opposite ends of the shaft in the opposite side of the casing.

In a construction of the class described, a hollow casing formed as an integral casting with spaced apart sides, ends, bottom and top, a cylindrical neck open at its upper end extending upwardly from the casing between its ends, said casing between its upper and lower sides having walls continuing the neck to form a vertical cylinder, a horizontal partition between one side of the cylinder and an end of the casing dividing the casing at such side of the cylinder into upper and lower compartments, each of said compartments having communication with the cylin der, and said horizontal partition having a relatively small opening theret-hrougb connecting the compartments, a piston mounted in the cylinder for vertical movements, said cylinder a distance above the normal lower position of the piston having a lateral enlargement, a vertical partition dividing the casing at the other side of the cylinder into two chambers, said partition having an opening therethrough, a valve movably mounted in one of said chambers adapted to close the opening, means operated by the piston, and means operatively connected with said means operated by the piston for actuating the valve to open or closed position, said lower compartment at one side of the cylinder oeing adapted to receive water under pressure, and one of said chambers at the opposite side of the cylinder being adapted to receive gaseous fuel under pressure, the other chamber having an outlet for the escape thereof, uibstantially as described 6. in a construction of the class described, a hollow casing forn'ied as a unitary casting formed with a vertical cylinder between its ends, upper and lower compartments at one side of the cylinder, each of which has communication with the cylinder, and two separated chambers at the opposite side of the cylinder with a connecting opening; between them, an opening: of relatively small size connecting the said compartments, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in one of said chambers, an arm secured thereto, a valve attached to the free end of the arm adapted to close said opening between the chambers, a second shaft horizontally mounted. acro s the upper compartment, an arm extending therefrom into the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, means connecting the arm on said second shaft to the piston, the cylinder above the normal lower po ition of the piston having a lateral enlargement, each'of said she ts extending through a side of the casing, an arm attached to the outer end of each of said shafts, a link connecting; the arms, and a. spring connected at one end to the link adjacent its point of connection to one arm and at its other end to the other arm above the pivotal axis of the shaft to which it is connected, the lowermost compartment being designed to receive water under pressure, and the chamber in which the first shaft is not mounted being designed to receive gaseous fuel under pressure, said chamber in which the first shaft is mounted having an outlet therefor, substantially as de cribed.

7. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 4:, combined with an interiorly bored boss on the opposite side of the casing to receive the opposite end of the shaft, said opposite end of the shaft being bored lengthwise from and at said end, a spring seated in the opening; in the shaft, and a pointed plug loo ely positioned in the opening in the shaft and ex.- tendinp; beyond the end of the shaft to bear under pr ure from the spring against the bottom of the opening in said boss, substan tially as described.

8. In a construction of the class de cribed, a casing having a vertical. cylinder formed with. a lateral enlargement at one side and two compartments located one over the other and separated by a partition positioned at one side of the cylinder and both communicating therewith, said lower compartn'ient being adapted to receive water under pressure, and said upper,compartment being connected with the lower compartment by a passage of relatively small size through the partition, means for regulating the flow of water from the lower to the upper compartment, a piston in the cylinder adaptedto move between a lower and an upper position in the first of which it is below said lateral enlargement to the cylinder and in the lattcr of which it is at such enlargement, a gaseous fuel passage control, and means for operating the same by movements of the piston, opening the same when the piston is moved to upper position and closing the same when the piston is moved to lower position.

9. In a construction of the class described, a ca ing including; a vertical cylinder formed with a lateral enlargement at one side and with two compartments located one over the other and separated by a partition located at one side of the cylinder, both of the compartments communicating with the cylinder, said lower compartment having an opening; through its lower side and said upper compartment having an interiorly threaded opening at its outer end, a plug inserted in said threaded opening and having a longitudinal recess cut longitudinally in one side, said partition between the compartments having an opening of relatively small size therethrough communicating with the recess, means permitting rotation of the plug to vary the flow of vater to the cylinder, a closure for the opening at its outer end, a piston in the cylinder, a shaft rotatably mounted across the upper compartment, and a connection between the shaft and said piston, substantially as described.

10. In a construction of the cla s described, a casing including a vertical cylinder and a lateral extens on divided into upper and lower compartments communicating with the cylinder and with each other, fuel compartments and a valve for controlling the flow of fuel between the compartments, a piston in. the cylinder. means for operating the piston and fuel valve simultaneously, part of the said operating means being: housed in the upper compartment.

In testimony whereof I atlix my sinji'iature.

DWIGHT S. COLE. 

